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Tomorrow is house walk through #1. Should go quick. The house pretty much has been inspected through and through by a multitude of inspectors - from the house itself to the roof to the fireplaces and chimneys to the spa to the soil to the termites to the ...

It has been an interesting journey. So unlike Singapore. An array of inspections just a day or so later than the acceptance of your offer by the seller, all done pretty much within the same afternoon - I was just busy signing checks to pay for all of them. Followed naturally by an an array of reports from each inspection company to read on top of legally required ones like natural hazards reports and home owners association whatyamightcallit which is a humongous two inch thick volume, I swear. And then a lot of documents to sign both from the real estate company signed, interestingly, electronically over the internet (I suspect to protect ithe realtor company's rear ends) and then from the escrow company and, of course, the bank. I have no idea what we signed last week at the escrow company. No one could possibly read the hundreds of pages of legalese and forms. Since every buyer of any property must do the same, there is no room for negotiations and you are not expected to ask for time to read the fine prints which I believe is humanly impossible at any rate. Within one hour, we have probably signed ourselves into hock in perpetuity.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I break out in fear over my new level of indebtedness. After several years of frenetic thrift. What have I done?!

What price America? A big pay cut, high taxes and huge mortgage payments for the next generation of years? Am I insane? What choices did I have? Either stay or go back to no jobs and traumatic readjustments to school and lifestyle. And loss of college possibilities. Not to mention the fortuity of our timing. I was really really fortunate to start when we did - to have sponsorhip for staying before the company froze all sponsorships and considering the belt tightening my business unit is going through right now.

As I look out at the beautiful hills of the Tri-Valley turning green from the recent rains, the wide open expanse, the miles on miles of endless highways, the no fear no holds barred debates over policies on the telly, feel the chills of Fall and the early hints of winter, watch with wonder the high winds shaking the yellowing leaves off the trees where we live leaving piles of leaves (no play on words intended) by the roadside and look at my kids doing what they do in their schools, it was a price I would probably willingly pay again, if I had to.

I thank the heavens we were given the chance to blaze a new path where others were not.